Queen Slime (Part 1)
"R-right? The famous female Silver Badge mercenary! You're that beautiful swordswoman Rene-nim who single-handedly defeated the Dire Wolf!"
All the wariness from moments ago vanished as one of the men raised his voice excitedly.
The other two also hesitated and lowered their weapons.
"We're not bandits or anything, we're mercenaries from the guild! I'll show you our badges! Hey, you two, take yours out too!"
The three men took out bronze badges from their pockets and showed them to me.
Though hard to see clearly due to the shadows, the shape confirmed they were indeed mercenary badges.
"...Yes. I've confirmed it."
I similarly lowered my sword and approached them.
Given they even used the embarrassing title of "beautiful swordswoman," they probably weren't bandits.
"I didn't expect to meet you here. I thought all Silver Badge mercenaries would be on the undead subjugation side."
The man who recognized me first spoke to me with good cheer.
His voice was pleasant and his impression gentle - the kind of man who'd likely be quite popular with women.
"I don't particularly like undead."
"Hahat! Me too! Dealing with cursed corpses is really unclean and creepy work!"
The undead plague where unclean energies gather on the land and run rampant.
I've never actually seen it, but it probably wouldn't be very pleasant.
An army of corpses made of rotting flesh and skeletons would be enough to cause physiological disgust.
"Ah, right. My name is Ian. I've been wanting to introduce myself to you sometime, and now I've got the chance."
"I'm Rene. Nice to meet... Look out!"
Instinctively pushing Ian aside, I stepped back.
The spot where the two of us had been standing moments ago.
Something sticky came crashing down upon it.
"S-slime!"
A semi-transparent dark green liquid monster squirmed on the ground.
So that's an acidic slime.
It seemed to have been waiting in the trees above before launching its ambush.
As I quietly observed the creature's movements, Ian's two companions approached.
"Ian! Get back!"
A long flail flew toward the slime that was slowly rising.
The slime was helplessly battered by the iron ball, acidic mucus splattering everywhere until eventually its core was revealed.
"Now!"
The iron weight of the flail struck the slime's core at just the right moment.
The Outer Core cracked and shattered into pieces.
Simultaneously, the slime's body that had been writhing and struggling helplessly dispersed.
"Whew, that was a close call. Thank you, Rene! You saved my life!"
Ian wiped sweat from his forehead and expressed his gratitude to me.
I answered casually and turned my attention to the slime.
"You're welcome. So this is an acidic slime."
"Ah, is this your first time seeing one? If you break the Outer Core around the core like just now, it dies. You can collect the remaining Inner Core as proof."
So the hunting method is to clear away the acidic mucus with attacks and finish by destroying the core's Outer Core.
A simpler hunting method than I expected.
If even these bronze badge mercenaries could handle it without difficulty, it should be even easier for me.
"Hey! You shouldn't touch th...!"
Ignoring Ian's attempt to stop me, I touched the acidic liquid that had splattered nearby.
Despite its potency that had melted the surrounding pebbles, it had no reaction on my gloves.
As expected, it seemed the Dire Wolf leather's protective power couldn't be penetrated.
"W-wait, are those Dire Wolf leather armor? That's amazing!"
Ian looked at me with eyes so bright it was almost burdensome.
I just nodded slightly and changed the subject.
"It attacked from the trees just now, right? Do such ambushes happen often?"
"Hmm, it's rare but it does happen. So you always have to be careful around bushes and trees. I almost got caught even though I knew about it because I let my guard down."
Around bushes and trees then.
I committed his advice to memory.
As long as I'm careful about unexpected ambushes, there shouldn't be any life-threatening situations.
Having gathered enough information, it was time to start hunting in earnest.
I bid farewell to the trio of mercenaries.
"I'll be going now. It was nice meeting you."
"Ah, Rene! Don't go that way. It's dangerous because there are too many slimes."
I looked in the direction Ian pointed.
A dark place where almost no sunlight reached due to the dense trees.
It seemed to be the deep heart of the wetland.
"More is better for me. Thank you. See you later."
"Huh? B-but it's dangerous..."
Thanks to meeting Ian's group, I got good information right to the end.
Leaving the flustered group behind, I moved toward the deep parts of the wetland.
About 5 minutes after I started moving.
As soon as I heard the squelching sound of liquid, I swiftly swung my sword.
A slime with half its body split along with the bushes.
Not missing the opening, I struck down at its core.
Its durability didn't seem particularly strong as I could shatter the Outer Core in one blow.
I immediately stored the remaining Inner Core in my pouch. That's one.
Checking my pain points, they had increased by about 15.
This is less than medium-sized creatures like wolves or goblins.
Disappointing but unavoidable. I should be grateful I could feel pain at all.
I continued forward, dispatching the slimes that attacked.
They came at me almost one every three steps, giving my sword no rest.
Though the points per slime were low, their advantage was their enormous numbers.
I continued hunting for quite a while, mixing in Agony's Ecstasy whenever possible.
I stopped walking when my surroundings grew dark and my vision was obstructed.
It was already dark due to the shadows, and with the sun set, I could barely see an inch ahead.
I should rest here for today.
It was already too late to leave the wetland, so I prepared to camp out.
The ground was acidic slime territory. The only place I could rest was in the trees.
I climbed the tallest tree nearby and settled on a thick branch.
At this height, the slimes wouldn't dare try to climb up.
Since I hadn't seen any animals other than slimes, I probably didn't need to worry about snakes either.
Just in case, I sprinkled mosquito-repelling powder before finally completing my preparations for a safe rest.
All that remained was to check today's results.
- Pain (10,070pt)
Thanks to the slimes' numerical assault, the moment had finally arrived to unlock the third sin, Greed.
Staring at the holographic window flickering before my eyes, I focused my mental energy.
The system responded to my will.
- Sin Unlocked: Greed
- Unlocked Seven Deadly Sins' equivalent exchange 'Greed' with 10,000 pain pt
A dry notification devoid of any emotion.
Then the explanation I had been eagerly awaiting appeared.
<Greed's Equivalent Exchange>
Present gold and treasures. I shall bestow hidden power.
- Permanent increase in Sense, Intelligence, and Magic stats in exchange for Greed pt
Like Pain's equivalent exchange, Greed also increases stats.
Sense and Intelligence were expected, but it even increases Magic.
I'd need to actually allocate the stats to feel the detailed effects, but it's clear all three would help me.
More importantly, my biggest question now was how to obtain Greed points.
The system's description, or rather the demon's words to me, said to present gold and treasures.
I immediately searched my pocket and took out a 50 Grange copper coin.
No matter how I handled it, there was no particular reaction.
Apparently copper coins don't qualify as gold and treasures.
When I took out a silver coin next, I could sense something strange.
"...Light?"
A faint light was seeping from the silver coin.
No, more precisely, it felt like it only appeared to be glowing to me.
Meaning it wasn't actually becoming a light source, but only appeared bright to my eyes.
The reason for this sudden change was clear.
The demon of Greed whose name I don't yet know. This must mean he desires this silver coin.
Clutching the silver coin, I concentrated my mind.
Holding the intention to 'offer it' in that state, a strange phenomenon occurred.
The silver coin in my hand vanished without a trace.
Checking the holographic window confirmed my expectations were correct.
- Greed (5pt)
1 Arshen converted to 5 points.
Then theoretically, offering 20 Denar should yield 10,000 points.
It was extremely fortunate that I hadn't spent my gold coins and had saved them.
Offering my entire fortune of 83 Denar would give me approximately 40,000 points.
This is enough points not only to unlock the authority but also to unlock the next Seven Deadly Sins, and even increase stats by dozens.
Meaning my stagnant growth path would break through smoothly.
I wanted to return to the city immediately, but I suppressed the impulse.
Regardless, the most important thing for me is pain points.
I need to earn at least a few thousand to have a chance against Richard.
I decided to hunt slimes until tomorrow afternoon exactly before returning.
Steadying my excited heart, I wrapped my cloak around myself and closed my eyes.
I needed to get some sleep, even if fitful, to manage my condition.
Waking and sleeping intermittently, I finally rose with a groggy body at early dawn.
The surroundings were still dim. But not enough to hinder movement.
Loosening my muscles with Recovery, I climbed down from the tree.
The dew-soaked ground clung stickily to my boots.
Unavoidable given it's a wetland, but not a pleasant feeling.
There's nothing particularly special here besides slimes. I should finish hunting today and graduate from this place.
Drawing my sword in one hand, I advanced while guarding my surroundings.
Slimes attacked with every step, so just responding to them made combat smooth.
Even two or three at once wasn't a problem.
I'd now reached a skilled level in dealing with slimes.
I repeated the series of processes: being careful of the splashing acid, cutting through the mucus, and breaking the Outer Core.
It was slightly inconvenient destroying them with a sword rather than a blunt weapon like a mace.
Even so, the difference in level was so great that the combat was closer to one-sided slaughter.
If I had to point out one minor problem, it was that the clothes I was wearing had slightly melted.
Naturally, the Dire Wolf material equipment showed no damage at all.
My pants were also leather material so they were somewhat fine, but the problem was my blouse and cloak.
Both were full of holes and completely ruined.
Now I understood why the mercenaries I met yesterday looked so messy.
It was somewhat disappointing, but at least I didn't have to worry about being naked.
I carefully stepped forward while repelling the endlessly swarming slimes.
After such extended hunting, the time reached noon.
The fingernail-sized Inner Cores were piled high in my leather pouch.
Combining yesterday and today, I'd likely exterminated at least 200.
I'd also collected about 3,000 pain points, so it would be good to return around now.
Just as I was about to shoulder my pouch and retrace my path.
"...?"
A noisy sound came from far away.
Listening carefully for a moment, it sounded like the noise of metal clashing mixed with men's rough shouts.
Perhaps other mercenaries were fighting nearby.
I could just ignore it and leave, but it would be safer for my wellbeing to check first.
Gauging the direction of the noise, I moved stealthily.
The source of the sound gradually growing closer.
Hiding my body in the bushes, I eventually reached the scene of the incident.
"...!"
Spread before my eyes was nothing less than a bloody massacre.
As if it was already over, four corpses lay scattered on the ground, with six men chuckling as they rummaged through the bodies.
Only two types of people wander this slime-infested wetland.
Mercenaries and bandits.
I couldn't consider those chuckling after killing four people to be good mercenaries.
Scum criminals wearing human masks - extermination is the only answer.
Just as I was about to rush out to slaughter them all. I stopped abruptly in astonishment.
Six murderous bandits. Three of their faces were familiar.
That young man enjoying the plunder at the forefront - I even knew his name.
"...Ian."
The three mercenaries I met yesterday. They were mixed among the bandit gang.